The batteries in Formula E racers are at the cutting edge of technology, and could benefit electric cars when proven. The super-fast cars achieve top speeds of 200 miles (320 kilometers) per hour. They accelerate to 60 miles (96 kilometers) per hour in a blistering 1.82 seconds.
Battery Secrets Hidden in Formula E Racers
The latest Formula E batteries do away with the need to switch cars during the race. However, their electric motors still consume more energy than their batteries hold. Regenerative braking is part of the solution. But the batteries must also be able to release that energy quickly and flexibly.
Engineers compare the batteries in Formula E racers in terms of their C-rate. This measures how quickly a battery can receive and discharge all its energy. A high C-rate requires a large number of A5-size batteries, stacked in modules of a few hundred each, and with a cooling plate between each pair.
These batteries use lithium-ion chemistry with the added tweak of nickel, manganese and cobalt. So all-in-all the batteries are made for high speed racing. But at best they can only hold 50 kWh in the available space. While the race can consume almost twice that energy.
How Formula E Drivers Make the Difference
Formula E drivers close the energy gap with thoughtful driving, although this does not involve using a light foot! Instead, they rush into tight corners so they gain the most energy from regenerative braking. However, they don’t use conventional friction brake pads to achieve this.
The design of the racetrack forces the electric race cars to slow down, as they enter tight corners and pass through alternating bends in chicanes. But that’s still not enough to keep the batteries in Formula E racers charged throughout the race.
Drivers still have do a 30-second pit stop in the middle of the race, to top up for the final run. After that, it’s hold thumbs, as TV broadcasts reveal how much energy is left in each car. That’s nail biting stuff, but then so is motor racing, as it always will be!
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